July 21, 2017
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Former Penn State women's hockey defenseman Kelly Seward (Williamsville, N.Y.) has signed a professional contract with the Buffalo Beauts of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) for the 2017-18 season. Seward becomes the third Nittany Lion in program history to sign a contract to play professional hockey.
"I'm very grateful and honored for the opportunity to represent my hometown in Buffalo and help grow the game of women's hockey," Seward said.
Seward joins Laura Bowman and Jenna Welch as the three Nittany Lions in the program's short history to sign professional hockey contracts. Earlier this summer, Bowman signed a contract to play for the EHV Sabres Vienna for the 2017-18 season, while Welch played for the DEC Salzburg Eagles during the 2014-15 season.
During her Nittany Lion career, Seward played in 142 games, tallied 34 points on five goals and 29 assists. Her 29 assists are the most by a Nittany Lion defenseman in program history.
A geography major, Seward graduated this past spring with an overall GPA of 3.80. For her work in the classroom, she was a four-time All-College Hockey America (CHA) Academic Team honoree, a three-time Academic All-Big Ten member, and a three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
The NWHL is the first professional women's hockey league in North America. The inaugural season began October 11, 2015 with the Founding Four: Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale and New York Riveters. The Boston Pride became the first team in NWHL history to raise the Isobel Cup on March 12, 2016.
On March 19, 2017, the NWHL's second season concluded with the Buffalo Beauts being crowned Isobel Cup Champions.